Carrier device for an engine powered tool

ABSTRACT

A harness is used for carrying portable tools like trimmer and clearing saws. The harness comprises at least two straps ( 11 ) that pass over the shoulders of the operator and a waist belt ( 17 ) secured to a plate ( 12 ) placed on the back of the operator. A hip pad ( 15 ) hanging in a string or a rope ( 16 ) running between the plate ( 12 ) and a device ( 13 ) placed on the chest of the operator. In order to make the operator carry more of the tool weight by the waist belt is the hip pad ( 15 ) secured to the plate ( 12 ) on the back of the operator by a third strap ( 19 ).

Engine powered tools like for example clearing saws, trimmers and brushcutters are widely used for work in forests and gardens. The differenttypes of tools are available in different sizes that are developed tomeet the requirements for the work. The operator often works long shiftswith the tool and the body of the operator will therefore be exposed tobig loads.

In order to improve the working conditions for the operator are thesetools carried in a harness placed on the back, shoulders and hip of theoperator. The tool is attached to the harness by a hook placed on a hippad that is hanging down from the harness in a rope. The hip pad isduring use placed close to one of the hips of the operator. The use of aharness for carrying the tool reduces the loads on the arms of theoperator since most of the tool weight is carried by the back and theshoulders of the operator instead of the operator's arms that are usedfor the control of the tool. The hip pad is used to reduce the wear fromthe hook that is connected to the tool and to support the tool on thehip of the operator. The position of the hip pad is adjustable in orderto suite operators with different length. The straps on the harness arealso adjustable to be comfortable for the operator to wear.

The harnesses available on the market today are designed to meet therequirements in laws that regulates these kind of tools in order toguarantee the safety of the operator. These harnesses are designed sothat the operator can open the harness by one single handle that shouldbe placed so that it is easy for the operator to reach when the harnessis in its right position on the operator. This means that when theoperator opens the harness is will fall off the shoulders of theoperator and down to the ground so that the operator gets free from thetool. A harness designed like this however has the drawback that it isvery difficult to make it comfortable for the operator to wear.

New laws though replace the laws that the known harnesses are designedto meet. According to the new laws must it be possible to release thetool from the operator in an easy way instead of the tool and theharness like the previous laws stated. This means that the operator mustbe able to release the tool from the harness very quick and by usingonly one hand. If the release mechanism is moved to the hook on the hippad that the tool is attached to can the harness be designed to suitethe operator as good as possible. The new type of harness is thereforemore ergonomic and reduces the loads on the operator.

The known models of harnesses have two straps that are placed over theshoulders of the operator like the straps on a rucksack. One end of thestraps are secured to a plate placed on the back of the operator and theother end is secured to a device, placed on the chest of the operator,that can be opened so that the straps are released from the device.There is also a third strap running between the plate on the back of theoperator and the device on the chest of the operator. This third strapis placed on the opposite side of the operator as the tool and isrunning underneath the operator's arm. On the opposite side of theoperator as the third strap is the hip pad hanging in a rope withadjustable length secured in one end to the plate on the back of theoperator and the other end to the device on the chest of the operator.Since the length of the rope can be adjusted is it possible for theoperator to alternate the height of the hip pad and consequently thetool that is attached to the hip pad. This makes it possible fordifferent operators to select a suitable height for the tool. The deviceon the chest of the operator can be opened so that the two straps arereleased from the device to let the harness and the tool drop to theground if there is problems with the tool that could affect the safetyof the operator. To make this arrangement work properly can the hip padonly be hanging in a rope or a strap, which means that the biggest partof the tool weight is carried by the shoulders of the operator. Thismeans that the use of such a harness will be very tiring for theshoulders and back of the operator.

The new type of harness has a more advanced design than the harnessdescribed above. The design of the known harnesses has though been theframework for the new harness that is provided with several details.

The claimed harness has a smaller device on the chest of the operatorfor securing the different straps that is included in the harness andalso an extra elastic strap acting between the lower part of the plateon the back of the operator and the hip pad. The elastic strap pulls thehip pad towards the operator and reduces the weight that is carried bythe rope so that a bigger part of the tool weight is carried by the beltplaced around the waist of the operator. The length of the elastic strapis adjustable in both ends of the strap in order to suite the operatorand the tool that is used.

One embodiment of the claimed invention is illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1. Illustrates the harness.

FIG. 2. Illustrates the elastic strap.

In order to facilitate the situation for the operator are trimmers andclearing saws normally carried in a harness 10. The harness 10 comprisestwo straps 11 that are placed on the shoulders of the operator. Thestraps is in one end secured to a stiff plate 12 placed on the back ofthe operator while the other end of the straps 11 is secured to a devicethat consists of two parts, 13 a and 13 b, that are secured to eachother so that the straps are connected on the chest of the operator.From the two parts, 13 a and 13 b, is a third strap running between thedevice on the chest of the operator and the stiff plate 12 on the backof the operator. On the opposite side of the operator compared to thethird strap is a hip pad 15 hanging in a rope 16 or a string that isrunning between the device on the chest and the stiff plate 12 on theback of the operator The hip pad 15 is movable along the rope 16 orstring that has an adjustable length so that the position of the hip pad15 can be optimised for the operator and the tool that is used. A waistbelt 17 is also attached to the stiff plate 12 on the back of theoperator in order to reduce the loads on the shoulders and the back ofthe operator.

The tool is attached to a hook 18 placed on the hip pad 15 so that theweight of the tool is carried by the harness 10. To reduce the weightcarried by the shoulder and the back of the operator further is the hippad 15 also secured to the harness 10 by an elastic or non-elastic strap19 that is running between the hip pad 15 and the stiff plate 12 on theback of the operator. This elastic or non-elastic strap 18 rearrangesthe loads on the operator so that the waist belt 17 instead of theshoulders carries the more of the tool weight. The elastic ornon-elastic strap 19 is preferably made of an elastic material thatreduces movements in the tool so that the comfort for the operator isimproved.

The strap 19 can be designed in different ways. One solution is to usean elastic material for a midsection 20 of the strap 19 and a morenon-elastic material 21 in the ends to make it easier to secure thestrap to the device 13 on the chest of the operator and the stiff plate12 on the back of the operator.

1. A carrier device for a portable tool comprising at least two straps(11) that pass over the shoulders of the operator and a waist belt (17)secured to a plate (12) placed on the back of the operator and a hip pad(15) hanging in a string or a rope (16) running between the plate (12)and a device (13) placed on the chest of the operator, characterised inthat the hip pad (15) is secured to the plate (12) on the back of theoperator by a third strap (19).
 2. A carrier device according to claim1, characterised in that the strap (19) is running from the hip pad (15)and behind the back of the operator.
 3. A carrier device according toclaim 1 or 2, characterised in that the strap (19) is secured to the hippad (15) and/or the plate (12) in such a way that the length of thestrap (19) can be adjusted.
 4. A carrier device according to any of theprevious claims, characterised in that the strap (19) is secured in thetop section of the hip pad (15).
 5. A carrier device according to any ofthe previous claims, characterised in that at least one section of thestrap (19) is made of an elastic material.
 6. A carrier device accordingto any of the previous claims, characterised in that the plate (12)placed on the back of the operator is made of a stiff material.